Caged

A/N: This is my first Naruto fic so please be gentle. Constructive criticism will be appreciated and flamers, well, do you really want to take the risk. So flame at your own risk! Also, I'd love to show my love and appreciation to Apherion. She inspired me greatly with her fic, Uncertain Feelings, which is an absolute wonderful read!

Hugs/Props to ya girl. You rock! This is rated T for now but rating may go up later. Also, this is a Kakashi/Sakura fic.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto & company, for if I did, I'd own Kakashi. I'm including an original poem of mine, 'Set Free', which I do own. So now we're clear on who owns who & what... on with the show!

Sakura awoke to a loud, buzzing sound. Taking her hand, grabbing the offensive, noisy object and throwing at the nearest wall. Then she realized what she had done.

"Oh, no. Ino's going to kill me! She gave me that alarm clock for my birthday last year. What am I gonna tell her? Oh, well, no sense worrying about it now. Time to get up, get ready and head to the traing grounds."

She was excited about training today because she would be back training with the legendary, kakashi. Sakura had really missed him and her boys more than anyone would ever guessed. Everyone thought she was finished when Sasuke abandoned Konoha in search of the power to help him destroy his brother. While Sasuke was doing that, Naruto was training with Jaraiya, ero-sennin. Jaraiya was legendary in his own way but he'd already taught Naruto quite alot. Sakura looked forward to the day when they all four could reunite as team 7 once again. But with everything going on, who knew when that day would come.

Sakura threw on her regular chuunin gear, she'd past the test right after her teammates had left, along with her typical weapons. She even wanted to show Kakashie a few new jutsus she'd learned from Tsunade herself. Most of all, she just wanted to impress him, to hear him say that he was proud of her! She'd walked out her door and before the pink haired kunoichi knew it she was standing at team 7's training area. Sakura couldn't believe she'd been that deep in thought. Thinking to herself, 'I bet Kakashi will be late but I wonder how late'. Twenty minutes later, deep in thought, her pondering was answered.

"Yo, Sakura." Kakashi called out to her. "Been here long?"

Sakura couldn't help but to laugh at their joke. "No, sensei. Just long enough to begin meditating. Since I never could do it with Sasuke and Naruto around."

Sakura looked at Kakashi, admiring his lean body, even his hair begged to be touched. ' Wait a minute...where did that come from? He's my freaking teacher, no way can I even consider this. But, my god, I haven't seen him in so long. If it hadn't had been for the note tacked to my door yesterday I wouldn't be here now. I remember I had just gotten back from the store and there was a note on my door telling me to meet here at team seven's training grounds at eight am. So here I am and there he is.' Her thoughts were beginning to run a little on the irrational side so she tried to rationalize them thinking maybe it was PMS or something!

"Sakura?" Kakashi asked.

"Yes?"

"Are you ready to begin? I thought we could start with some sparring to see how you've progressed and go from there, alright with you?"

"Sure." Sakura felt like her voice was unsteady and might likely tip her teacher off that something might be amiss. ' If I can just act normal for once. But what the hell is normal exactly?'

Sakura took out her kunai and readied herself. She knew that the moves and jutsus she'd seen him maneuver were the tip of the iceberg. Kakashi wasn't the legendary Copy-Nin for nothing. Sakura was almost so deep in thought that she about missed the kick coming at her head, ducking she countered with a block and a kick of her own, which she knew would probably come up short. Out of the corner of her eye she saw two shuriken flying at her. Skillyfully, using her kunai, she cut them out of the air and away from the intended target; her.

Kakashi narrowed his eyes. "Damn. She's gotten a little better. Sakura never used to be able to do that. I think it's time to bump up the stakes."

Shadow replications and other jutsus had been freed to work their purpose. Blows upon blows were being exchanged time after time. Hours later, Sakura, soaked with sweat, still trying to fight her all. The next move revealed frightened her more than any enemy she'd ever seen.

A/N: I'm gonna leave it right there for tonight...my first chapter, my first fic and all. If you want more just R/R. I know the Kakashi/Sakura action's slow right now, but it'll pick up.. you can't just jump into something like that.. what kind of girl do you take me for anyway? Hahaha.. :)